Is it safe to use cosmetic products during pregnancy?

As soon as you get pregnant, there are more don’ts than do’s that you need to be careful about. While avoiding alcohol consumption and smoking during pregnancy are common logic, when it comes to cosmetics or cleaning products, there is no clear idea about how safe it is. Studies suggest that phthalates, paraben and lead, commonly found in cosmetic products, can lead to complications in pregnant women. Here are a few chemicals you should be careful about. Lead: It is a common chemical ingredient found in a broad range of cosmetics such as lipsticks and eye shadow. Although the permissible content of lead is 20 ppm, several brands use higher levels of this metal which puts you at a risk of lead poisoning. Moreover, pregnant and breastfeeding women are more at risk as lead can pass through placenta and milk glands and affect fetal development [1]. Isotretinoin: This is a common prescription drug used to treat acne. It is also used in make-up products like foundation creams. However, according to a study published in the journal Archives of Dermatology, exposure to isotretinion during pregnancy increases the risk of major congenital malformations in infants [2]. Consult your doctor before you use this drug. Phthalates: Commonly found in personal-care products such as soap and shampoo, long term exposure to phthalates might lead to miscarriage between five and 13 weeks of pregnancy. Not just women working in factories who are exposed to the chemical, the general population is also at risk of suffering from pregnancy complications [3]. Triclosan and triclocarban: These are the most commonly used disinfectants in soaps, toothpaste and almost every other product we use every day. These compounds, namely triclosan and triclocarban can lead to health problems in pregnant women and might even affect the size of your newborn. Ammonia: The synthetic hair colouring products contain ingredients like ammonia, phenediammines and resorcinol that can cause allergic skin reactions. Moreover, these chemicals are also known to be potential carcinogens. Hence, pregnant women are advised to use natural dyes which are gentle on the scalp and hair. Also, exposure to these substances or air pollutants may result in preterm birth, low birth weight, birth deficits in the fetus [4]. However, Dr Nupur Gupta, Gynaecologist and obstetrician, Well Woman Clinic, Gurgaon, says, ‘There are no restrictions that pregnant women should follow when it comes to using cosmetics, unless these products are loaded with harmful chemicals. The risk depends on numerous factors -- type of chemical you are exposed to, the duration, the frequency and concentration level -- that impacts the developing brain at prenatal stage.’ For example, when using a shampoo containing any of the high-risk chemicals, chances are slim that your scalp will absorb it. The shampoo remains in contact with your hair or scalp for barely a minute or two. And as far as studies are concerned, proper evaluation of the cosmetics and their health complications in Indian context needs to be carried out. And since these products are used in minimal amounts, the risk of complications in pregnancy and fetal development are not that common. However, for someone who works in a salon or  at a chemical manufacturing factory, there are high chances of exposure to harmful chemicals, which put you them at a risk of complications during pregnancy. In such cases, the only effective measure is to stop or limit your exposure to the chemicals. If you are still worried about complications, discuss it with your doctor. Image Source: Shutterstock You may also like to read

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1. Al-Saleh I, Al-Enazi S, Shinwari N. Assessment of lead in cosmetic products.Regul Toxicol Pharmacol. 2009 Jul;54(2):105-13. doi: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2009.02.005. Epub 2009 Feb 27. PubMed PMID: 19250956.
2. Mu, D., Gao, F., Fan, Z., Shen, H., Peng, H., & Hu, J. (2015). Levels of Phthalate Metabolites in Urine of Pregnant Women and Risk of Clinical Pregnancy Loss. Environmental Science & Technology, 49(17), 10651-10657.
3. Stadtlander, L. (2013). The Effects of Air Pollutants during Pregnancy.International Journal of Childbirth Education, 28(4).
4. Dai WS, Hsu MA, Itri LM. Safety of pregnancy after discontinuation of isotretinoin. Arch Dermatol. 1989 Mar;125(3):362-5. PubMed PMID: 2923442.